Red geraniums are a classic favorite for summer color—and for good reason. Their vivid blooms thrive in containers, window boxes, and garden beds, offering nonstop impact with very little fuss. Whether you’re looking for ideas to style them in porch pots or want to see how they look planted directly in the ground, this post has plenty of red geranium inspiration. I’ll also share tips for keeping them blooming all summer long, even into fall!
I love geraniums in general, but, Red geraniums will always have a special place in my heart because they were my Mom's favorite.
They are easy to grow, can handle a little abuse and look good into the fall when other plants start getting worn and tired looking.
I do have a post sharing different planter geraniums if you'd like to see some different colored geranium arrangements. This post you are now reading is specifically about my favorite red geranium container ideas that I have seen over the last few years. The biggest trick to keeping your geranium plants healthy is deadheading geraniums.
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Red Geraniums In Window Boxes
Window boxes under my windows are my dream! For now I have a porch rail with a window box attached :-).
There are so many red geraniums to choose from, and they don’t all look the same! Some have that classic bright red bloom with deep green leaves, while others (my personal favorite) lean darker—almost a scarlet or crimson. These deeper red geranium plants look amazing in black or white planters. And if you're going for a drapey, full look in a window box, try ivy-leaf geraniums. They’re great in spots with a little more shade too.
Although technically this is a window box, I have it on my small deck rail. This is such a pretty spring window box, I can't wait to recreate something similar.
Can Geraniums handle frost?
One of the reasons I keep coming back to geraniums every year is how tough they are. Geranium flowers can handle cooler temps way better than you'd expect. I’ve had them last well into fall—even through some light frosts. If it’s going to dip below freezing, I’ll toss a towel or blanket over them, and they’re usually just fine the next day. They really are one of the hardiest flowers I plant!
Below is such a simple planter with beautiful dark red geraniums, a healthy green spike plant and some trailing vinca vine. This is a classic planting following the thriller (the spikey grass), filler (red geranium) and spiller (vinca vine). It's simple, clean looking, easy to do and not very expensive to DIY!
This is a larger planted window box in front of the same restaurant. It has filled in as this is later in the summer.
These red geraniums just steal my heart! Perhaps it's the simplicity of the arrangement? Or the fact that I'm of European decent and I see these types of window boxes in pictures of Europe? I'm in love! Who needs red roses!! Give me red geraniums.
These are another type of geranium that do better with less direct sunlight and more shade.
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The dark black trim on the window boxes and the background of red brick are just so inspiring to me.
Geraniums in Pots – Classic and Colorful
Red geraniums in pots are such a timeless look—and one of my favorite ways to add bold color to a porch, patio, or even tucked along a garden path. These geranium plants are easy to grow and don’t need much to thrive, which makes them perfect whether you're a beginner gardener or just want something low-maintenance.
One of the best things about red geraniums is how versatile they are in containers. You can go with a simple red geranium in a decorative flower pot (I’ve used everything from painted plastic to galvanized tubs), or mix them into more colorful planter combinations.
I often follow the classic "thriller, filler, spiller" method for my geranium container ideas. The red geraniums are usually my filler, with a spiky grass or dracaena as the thriller and something like vinca vine, ivy, or sweet potato vine spilling over the sides.
If you're looking for red geranium planter ideas that stand out, try pairing them with white alyssum or even a few purple petunias. That red really pops next to contrasting colors, especially in summer sunlight.
There is a tutorial on how to create this metal tub planter on this site. This pretty tub-turned-planter replaced a whole mess of ugly! If you want a good laugh at a 'before' picture, click through on that blue link to see what this replaced.
An Italian restaurant used the fun container below. I looked it up, the saying on the planter means "in wine there is truth". Hmmmm, the more wine, the more truth (am I right?).
The planter below is obviously a red, white and blue themed planter. Aren't those red geraniums just the perfect red to help anchor that color theme!!
Tip about "blue" plants
Just an fyi, many planters use a purple instead of a blue since true blue plants are hard to find. It works and looks lovely! Many people haven't realized that but it is the easiest way to (and less expensive) way to get the red, white and blue themed planters. There are not a ton of true blue flowers that work in planters.
Of course I like the solid colored planter like below.
The black and white planter below is what is in my front yard now. If you want to create something similar, it's easy! Just look at my flower pot painting tutorial.
Red Geraniums Planted in the Ground
Last year I planted red geraniums right in the ground—and I was surprised at how easy they were to care for. Honestly, I think these red geranium flowers looked even better surrounded by some of my perennials. The color just pops in a garden bed. I especially liked how they held their shape and kept blooming even when other plants got tired. If you're looking for red geranium garden ideas, this is one of my favorites—simple, classic, and so cheerful.
Plants in the ground do NOT need to be watered as often. The roots also don't get as hot so the plant itself doesn't get as stressed. For those of you that are challenged finding enough time to water your planters frequently, this might be the perfect alternative!
I really enjoy seeing my annuals and perennials together. It can be a pretty combination of textures and colors you don't normally see together.
Remember at the beginning of this post I mentioned how geraniums and alyssum can tolerate frost? These stayed in the ground until after Thanksgiving this year.
FAQs
I live in the USDA zone 5a, in Southwestern Wisconsin. The zone you live in is very important to help determine your first and last frost dates. When buying plants, the plant tags always reference the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. The link will take you to where you can look up your zone by zip code.
This is a frequent question that I receive. I wrote this post about how to water my plants to help you.
For all of my flowering plants, I use Miracle Gro Bloom Booster. Make sure you buy the bloom booster formulation (not just regular Miracle Gro)! That's what helps your flowers continually bloom.
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